There’s one piece of advice that I’ve heard all of my life, but never really stopped to think about: “Stop and Smell the Roses.” In our busy, distraction-filled world, we rarely pause to enjoy the little things in life: the scent of a rose, the sunlight caught in a dew-filled spider’s web, the flash of color from songbirds that fly around the yard. These images are part of God’s creation and declare his glory (Psalm 19:1). Solomon reminds us that God has made everything beautiful in its time and calls us to be joyful and do good all our days (Ecclesiastes 3:11-12).
When our days are filled with manmade things, our focus drifts away from God and we forget who is truly in control. But in Matthew 6:26-29, Jesus points us to the birds of the air and the lilies of the field. When we consider how God cares for the birds and fills the fields with wildflowers, we are reassured that he will care for us as well. Spending time in God’s creation, we experience his glory and are reminded of the blessings he gives us daily.
Finally, Paul tells us to fix our thoughts on whatever is true, honorable, and lovely, and to put into practice what we’ve learned, trusting that the God of peace will be with us (Philippians 4:8-9). So the next time we grow weary and anxious about the future, take some time to go outside and stop and smell the roses. Let God’s creation remind us that the one who cares for the birds and the lilies is caring for us too.